Apparently, pregnancy might make me crazy.  Actually, I’m pretty sure this is par for the course for most women who have found themselves pregnant for longer than they really ever expected to be.  It’s weird, you get 2 weeks until your actual “due date” and you (by “you,” I mean “I”) get all expectant.  Then, the week passes and no baby.  But, that’s okay because next week, the baby will totally be here.  Until it’s not.  And, then you are a couple of days from your actual doctor-made due date and you’re looking up “100 ways to induce labor” on Google with a bottle of castor oil staring you down in the corner.  You know, just in case.

We’ve tried almost all of the common “natural” ways to induce…

I’ve walked and walked and walked.  As in, a mile or more a day…but then I figured out it wasn’t helping and decided I’d rather go drink iced tea.

Raspberry Leaf Tea.  Some people say it’s just good for you and others swear it helps contractions along.  It doesn’t taste awful, so I’ve been drinking it.

Sex…and nipple stimulation…  All I’ll say is, tried it.  That and, I’m pretty sure the method that GOT me pregnant probably won’t do me much good in making me un-pregnant.

Spicy Food – We’ve added red pepper to pasta and eaten spicy chicken wraps.  Not even contractions came afterwards.

Evening Primrose Oil Capsules – orally.  I’ve been doing this, just to see.  There have also been suggestions that I could um, insert one vaginally…but, I’m waiting on that one.  I’m not ready to risk infection yet.  I figure there’ll be enough “trauma” soon enough down there.  Might as well give it a break.

Bouncing on an exercise ball – this?  Just makes my toddler ticked off.  She thinks she should be bouncing on the ball and will try to push me off.  But, no contractions.

Squatting.  Seeing as how I can’t bend over much anymore, this isn’t something I have to try hard at…but nope.  Nothing.

Warm compresses here and there… which basically just feels like warm compresses here and there.

And, still…no baby.

So, now I’m at the whole castor oil or other laxative part of the list.  I was standing so firm on my decision to NOT do either of these around the beginning of last week.  But, now?  Now I’m like some crazy woman.

CASTOR OIL CASTOR OIL CASTOR OIL

It’s a mantra in my head that won’t leave me alone.  Daily, I am calling on friends to talk me down from the castor oil ledge.

I know that I could call my OB at any point next week and schedule an induction, but I’m trying to not do that too.  I want so badly to go into labor naturally – and I realize that I may or may not fold under the pain once I’m in labor and may ask for some drugs to take the edge off, but it was important for me to know what a labor would be like without pitocin drips.  But, then I think about Steven having to leave for an out of town military trip again and I get all teary.  I begin to second guess my body’s ability to do things on its own or whether my hormones or stress will keep me from doing this on my own.  Then, I look at the castor oil again.

But, I don’t even WANT the castor oil.  It makes you have the runs and vomit and can really screw things up with the baby (heart rate, etc).  At least with pitocin, the baby would be monitored and I wouldn’t be sick all over the place.  But, truthfully…I don’t want either of those.  Not really.

I don’t know WHY it’s so hard to think of even waiting for another 2 weeks.  I mean, really?  What’s the big deal?  Sure, I could go into labor in an hour…but if I don’t…what’s the big deal with 2 weeks?  Why do I get so insane feeling at the thought of having to wait a moment longer?

Sure, I thought I’d be holding her by now.  I was convinced I would be…but I’m not.  And, so what?

Pregnancy makes me crazy, that’s what.

So, who wants to take turns with finding ways to entertain me/occupy my brain for the next 12 days (or until she comes)?

**It is highly likely that I will need talked down from the castor oil ledge again…tomorrow…and the next day…

Welcome back!

Sometimes, products don’t really SEEM to have a “wow” factor until you actually use them – and then, you realize that you don’t really want to give them back.  I’ve found 3 of such products, lately – and, I’m having a really hard time keeping other people from sneaking them away *ahem*.

First, would be this Ergonomic Seat Cushion.

Honestly, when I first took a look at this, I wasn’t sure I’d be too impressed.  It’s a cushion made by a chiropractor and designed to take the pressure off of the pelvic area and redistribute the pressure to your soft tissue areas.  I hesitantly gave it a try, and was pretty surprised at what I found.  It works!  Not only that, but it’s lightweight and portable – so, we can use it anywhere (think office to kitchen table to football stands).  It’s not just for pregnant ladies, though – it’s for anyone who tends to sit a lot (or those who find sitting uncomfortable).

You can get yours HERE.

Second up, are the new Sharpies!

This Sharpie is the premium version of the classic marker and comes in a stylish stainless steel body.  I don’t have to tell you how RIDICULOUSLY FAMOUS I am, and how this Sharpie just takes things up a notch for all of the autographing of foreheads I do.  Unfortunately they don’t come in bright pink, or have a laser on the other end (for the overly excited fans that just won’t stay behind the line), but I’m sure they’re working on these minor issues.  I’ve also heard that a few other celebrities have taken to using this marker for autographs, too – but, I’m not going to bore you with details of who and such because let’s face it…I’m more important.

I’ll go ahead and give you the link to get your own, although I’m a little hesitant.  I do realize that imitation is the biggest form of flattery…or something like that – so, I guess if you want to copy off of me, that’s okay.  (It really is a cool marker.)

COPY ME.

Last would be a couple of Energizer Rechargeable Battery Chargers.

Okay, first I need to admit something…

I am so NOT the girl to get excited over batteries and chargers and such.

And yet, the Energizer Rechargeable 15-Minute Charger and Family Charger have me incredibly excited.  Over batteries.  I know.

I’ve tried other battery chargers before, and was either confused as to when they were finished, waiting for days, or told they were finished only to find the battery completely dead.  The 15 minute charger can not only recharge 4 AA or 4 AAA NiMH rechargeable batteries simultaneously at home, but it also comes with a car adapter (included) for on the go re-charging.  That’s like, faster than running to the store *real quick* to grab new batteries – and obviously way cheaper.

The Family Charger can charge AA, AAA, C, D or 9V batteries (all at once, too!) and only takes between 3-7 hours, depending on the battery type that you’re charging (For example, 9V take longer than a C or D).  I love that this charger meets all of our family’s needs with the ability to charge 8 AAs at once – OR, a mix and match of the battery types listed above!  Then, so there’s no confusion, it tells when each battery is finished charging with a graphic on the front screen!  That’s what I’m talking about.  No guessing games.  It TELLS YOU (and it tells you WHICH batteries are finished).

So, all of our batteries are now charged and packed up for the big day – assuming this baby chooses to be born this year.  And, the 15 minute charger is packed just in CASE I missed anything – or in case I feel the need to charge strangers’ batteries while I wait for labor to begin.

I finally took the initiative to look up what all of the hub-bub about this swine flu was about.  Typically, I ignore the news and get only the utmost “important” things from family and friends.  Some of you would say I’m not educating myself on the happenings of the world, but to be honest, I feel like I’m staying true to what really matters: the world around ME and the people who live in it.  That, and I don’t really care for the media’s representation of much of anything these days.  I’m just not ready to jump on the doom and gloom wagon, I have enough things in my own life that could easily get me down.

So, 109 cases so far, and one death in the US.  Although, the one death was a mexican visiting Texas and had “underlying conditions” and died from the pneumonia that the flu caused.  Being prepared is one thing, but I won’t be stocking up on tape and face masks just yet.  And, if I do…it’ll have nothing to do with swine flu.  I will take this plenty serious, but as of right now?  I have a better chance of walking into the road and getting run over than I do of dying from the swine flu.  Actually, seeing as how some people don’t read speed limit signs out here, that may not be saying much.  But, still.

Since I’m not spending my time raiding the shelves of Walmart for jugs of water, face masks, and duct tape, Steven and I had plenty of time to spare after my doctor’s appointment yesterday.  (I am still 3 cm, 80% effaced just like I was on Tuesday.)  So, we decided to head a town over and look at apartments.  If you know me at all (or have read my blog for over a month), you really shouldn’t have to ask WHY, but in case you are, I’ll save you the extra embarrassment from not really having been paying attention.

You see, Steven lost his job a couple of months ago and it was pretty much “Surprise!  Don’t come back!”  kind of thing.  And, while we have our theories as to the WHYS – which have everything to do with the management of the company and their finances and not much at all to do with S – none of it really matters much at this point.  And, in case you are still confused, I’ll break it down further…

No job = No income

No income + bills + creditors = Still no income

Do you see where I’m going with this?  We didn’t really have “savings” and are pretty much winging it (and have been) but are getting rather close to the end of the pot of money we were able to scrounge together.  Instead of waiting for another month or two, we thought we’d be proactive and just look at apartments and prices while we still have CHOICES and a little time, rather than being backed into a corner with only one or two options.

In other news, still no job.  Leads here and there, but after 2 months – nothing means anything until a contract is signed.  Now, we’re looking at the possibility of going full time military – I’m still figuring out how I feel about that, and it will mean a very probably move in a few years if we go with that.  Only thing is, there will still have to be a few rounds of jumping through fiery rings just to do that – and it all has to be done fast and of course is not in my hands at all.  So, yeh.

In even more AWESOME news…our last dependable vehicle died.  DIED.  So, we jumped it one last time (for now) and my grams let us use her old car, which well…yeh.  *Sigh*

There’s more, there always is…but that should give you a pretty good idea as to why I’m stressed.  And, why if anyone else tells me to just “Calm down” or “Focus on me and the baby”…well, please don’t.  I am trying to see the rainbows, I really am.  But, right now…I’m almost 40 weeks pregnant and feel like I have absolutely no control over much of anything.

In fact, I’m beginning to wonder if this baby is even going to be born before the year is out.  Well, not really…but I am wondering if maybe my body is a little confused, considering all of the trouble and hormone issues I had with conceiving L in the first place, and other hormone-related type issues.  I’m wondering if the baby is ready and my body is just a little confused.  I know NORMALLY, your body should know what to do, but I also know sometimes, the rules don’t always apply and what if I’m one of the weird ones?